August 2, 2013

EXCLUSIVE: "HOW TO",TRADITION & HISTORY OF THE USE PERFUME AND BAKHOOR IN AL-KHALEEJ/العطور والبخور في الخليج

Khaleejia said: Today we will enter local house to witness & share the secret of making boukhoor at home, but in the beginning, lets remember the history of perfume and boukhoor in the Khaleej. For that we did some research and even asked a grandmother (Ask Allah, make her life long and easy) who told us a long story of how it was here in the Khaleej in fact before..

History and types of the Bakhoor* (Incense)

If the pearl diving was one of the most important aspects of life in the old time, and disappeared with the passage of days due to the development of the society, there is still some semblance of life at the time, yet exist in some homes, and there are still some families who are keen to hold on to them, such as Bakhoor* incense. The incense is still used so popular today. in some homes its is used daily and and other burn incense only on special occasions.

In ancient times the incense was a manifestation of everyday life. There were many types of the incense and their use was also significant. There were incense for women and another for men, incense was different for every occasion.

The interest in incense and the way to use it goes to the Musilm doctrine, It is saying that when Prophet Mohammad ,peace be upon him, while entering city, he was greeted with aromas of burning ladan &incense as an expression of joy & happiness from welcoming Mohammad, peace be upon him.

Therefore, the use of the incense associated in people's minds with the remembrance of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

Incense for men is usually limited in choice to burning oud alone, by using burners which are made of pottery, and still this kind of bakhoor burners used so far on some occasions, though it is common to use incense burners made of copper..

AL-OUD

Usually Oud was imported from India, men were keen to apply perfume in the holidays and before going out to pray and while gatherings. Women used the kind of incense named Al-dkhoun. Most women were knowledgeable in the way of making All-Dkhoun and know well components and proportions of each one. The home made paste composed of Saja oud and misk, amber, absorbent and after kneading it was formed in the shapes of tablets or balls.which were placed in a wicker bags attached to dresses and the remain odor stayed for always, even after washing .But this did not prevent women from burning incense at home every evening as well.

Al-Bakhoor

Bakhoor and smoke are considered as basic and necessary things in the Arabic houses. There are many kinds of them like Al-Hassat, Al Amber, Al-Misk and Al-Haboob.

Dakhoon al Oud - made by adding to powder of the oud tree misk , rose oil, mix of oil perfume, amber. Then all getting kneaded and small ball are shaped. They can be used after some time when all ingredients are filled each other and get a little dry. Then it is put on the coal to welcome the guest or for other occasions or reasons:

Bakhoor for ill people.

One of the most common habits to use bakhoor as cure for ill people and also against demons, envy and jealousy. It is known that rooms where medicine are used have specific smell, and than more ill people lay in the bed, than more it effects the smell of the room. So bakhoor is the best way to change this smell.

Bakhoor for Weddings

It is a must on the weddings. Not earlier than one hour before the wedding starts a bakhoor carrier starts going around the halls and guests smoking the atmosphere with bakhoor and splitting perfume and saying salawat* (Greetings) to the Prophet , peace be upon Him : "Allahumma solli w sallem Aleik ya habib Allah Mohammad!"As a reason to avoid jelousy or envy from people by mentioning the Prophet. Saying Salawat to the Prophet on the big occasions considered to be beautiful and good.

Bakhoor for Guests.

"Smoking the guests out" one of the funniest stories that mentioning tradition of using bakhoor for the guests when a host want his guests to leave the house after long seating and getting bored from the conversation he start burning the bakhoor walking around the guests and saying " Khitam misk" which means "Beautiful ending like the smell of bakhoor" and the guests used to reply by saying " Ma baad el oud- gouod" which means "No sitting after the oud (bakhoor)".

The Weight & Price

All best khaleeji perfumes are weighted by units called - Tola. The price varies from the quality of the ingredients. There for the same kind of perfume can be different in the price. For bakhoor the rose oil and oud are one of the most expensive among the ingredients.

Kinds of Dahn el Oud:

Best Oud in Khaleej considered to be from Asam (India) will cost for tola = 11.5 gr about AED 2300 and for 1 kg = AED 25000.

once all done, store in the room temperature for about 3 days. After that put them in box or cover with alluminium folia and place in fridge .

. now you can burn it on the coal or electric mabkhora.The best will be special coal that has no any own smell and can give reach of bakhoor scent smoke

Some little quantity of bakhoor placed over the coal itself

. Presentation of making Bakhoor is done by A.Al Shamsi and her own private company Daaj, Dubai.exclusively for Khaleejia.Blogspot.com: For orders of Bakhoor and perfume please order through WatsApp or BBM

Love your page and look forward in getting everything I need to start using Bakhoor for my first time. I have Arabic heritage and was born here in USA. So, can't wait to connect with my heritage and know what my heritage traditions smell like..... Blessings & Thank you =)